“The grape market is currently booming,” says Henk Vlaeminck of Van Dijk Foods. “The grapes sell for a very high price, but demand continues to increase. This is an unusual situation, because normally it stabilizes when prices are so high. »
At Van Dijk Foods, the grapes currently come from Peru. “South Africa and Namibia are currently entering the market with small quantities, but we do not work with these origins. In our opinion, the quality of the Peruvian supply is preferred by our customers, and the quality is excellent this season, with perfect sizes, both for white and red. This may also be a reason why demand continues to persist despite such high prices. »
“There is definitely a shortage at the moment. This is partly due to last weekend's storm. This made supplying a little more difficult because the boats could not unload and the grapes did not arrive. Our phone line overheated after the storm because everyone was calling us about the grapes. Italy had shut down a little earlier than expected, and the market remained relatively empty. If we add to this good consumption in the run-up to the holidays, it is not surprising that prices are reaching new heights. In Belgium, they are used in different dishes, in addition to decorating the traditional cheese platter during festive evenings. So I expect prices won't come back down anytime soon. »
However, the trader expects that a larger volume will soon be available again. “Of course, there will be new arrivals. Namibia was already present a little last week and South Africa is now entering the market with some volumes. The market is so buoyant that these grapes will find their way to the market without any problem. Until the new year, there is in any case more space than necessary on the market. »
The complete team of Group A. De Witte, with Henk Vlaeminck, 4th from the left
“But nothing is decided yet. You never know exactly how things might turn out. But the shortage is currently such that it will take some time before the market returns to more normal prices. If that happens though. Take the example of South African citrus fruits: there were weeks when prices were very high, before suddenly falling again. For grapes too, we have to wait and see how much South Africa will send. We might not do anything about it, but it could affect the market. However, I don't expect demand to slow down anytime soon. Our Dutch customers also tell us this and in Germany people are already interested in launching new programs. »
In any case, the importer notes a growing popularity of the grape. “Consumer behavior, especially of the younger generation, is changing. Some products that we used to sell well, such as oranges and apples, are seeing their sales volume decrease. Consumers are simply less inclined to turn to this type of fruit seen as 'traditional'. It has to be easy and quick. Grapes can be simply washed and nibbled, especially seedless varieties. So they enjoy enduring popularity and I don't think that's going to change any time soon. »
For more information:
Henk Vlaeminck
Such. : +32 15556561
[email protected]
www.vandijkfoods.be
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